How Do We Know About God? About Sacred Scripture
Doctrnal Elements of a Currculum Framework for the Development of Catechetcal Materals for Young People of Hgh School Age
I. How Do We Know About God?
A. The thirst and desire for God Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], nos. 27-30, 44-45, 1718.
1. Within all people there is a longing for God. 2. That longing itself is from God, who desires and
initiates a relationship with each person. 3. Only in God can lasting joy and peace be found in
this life and in the next. B. God revealed in many ways.
1. Natural revelation CCC, nos. 32-34. a. Natural revelation attested to in Sacred
Scripture CCC, no. 32. 1 Old Testament references, including
Genesis and Wisdom. 2 Paul’s Letter to the romans.
b. Patristic testimony CCC, no. 32. c. Scholastic theology’s arguments for the
existence of God CCC, nos. 31, 34. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas and the ive proofs for
the existence of God. d. Vatican I: we can grasp with certainty the
existence of God through human reason CCC, nos. 36-38, 46-47.
e. Contemporary arguments based on the human person’s opening to truth, beauty, moral
goodness, freedom, voice of conscience CCC, no. 33.
2. Divine revelation. a. Deinitionmeaning CCC, nos. 50-53, 68-69.
b. Scripture as a divinely inspired record of God’s revelation in history CCC, nos. 54-64, 70-72.
1 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob CCC, nos. 59, 145, 147.
2 Moses CCC, no. 61. 3 Old Testament prophets CCC, nos.
61-64, 522. 4 Wisdom literature.
5 Preparation through John the Baptist CCC, nos. 523, 717-720.
c. Jesus Christ, the irst and the last, the deinitive Word of revelation, the one to whom all
Scripture bears witness, is God’s only Son CCC, nos. 65-67, 73, 101-104, 134, 423.
3. The transmission of Divine revelation CCC, nos. 74-95.
a. Apostolic Tradition CCC, nos. 74-79, 96. b. The relationship between Tradition and Sacred
Scripture CCC, nos. 80-83, 97. c. The Deposit of Faith and the role of the
Church CCC, nos. 84-95, 98-100.